Kindly allow me to introduce myself (not that I’m worthy of being introduced to this paper’s discerning readers). But you deserve to know who it is you’re reading; if God is willing, this will be a weekly thing.
I have been a motoring journalist for more than 27 years now. I started my lowly career in 1995 working for a print car magazine called Automotion (funny how we now qualify “magazine” with “print”). The technical editor of that publication was this newspaper’s current motoring editor, Manny de los Reyes. He knew (still does) so much about the subject matter that reading him pushed me to keep pace. Together with the car magazine’s EIC (Erle Sebastian) and columnist (Butch Gamboa), Manny inspired me to take the job seriously. You see, I needed all the motivation I could get: I commenced this gig without even knowing a single thing about automobiles.
I had been raised in a carless household. My knowledge of cars then was courtesy of Matchbox die-cast toys. I didn’t know how to drive. I stumbled upon my motoring-magazine job by serendipity. A college classmate—perhaps taking a pity on me after I had dropped out of college because I had wanted to be a pastor—notified me about an opening at a new publication (her cousin was the managing editor of the publishing company’s fashion magazine). Tired of being a bum, I gave it a try and walked into the job interview without a clue as to what the field was. Was it a lifestyle magazine? Music? Business? Perhaps sports?
Turned out to be a monthly magazine about cars—the first and only of its kind, and a topic I knew nothing about. When Chief Erle accommodated me for the job interview, I was 100% sure I would not be accepted. He was looking for an editorial assistant (read: the staff member who does all the dirty work). I mean, why hire a motoring staff member who had no college degree and didn’t know the meaning of torque?
We talked. Then he said, “Welcome to the staff.” Or something like that. To this day, I haven’t mustered the courage to ask him why.
His decision to hire me marked the beginning of a colorful journey. Worldly, materialistic, alcoholic—but colorful nevertheless. I now know that nothing in life is accidental. Nothing is random. I was placed here to meet the people that I’m now encouraging to seek God. If you’re getting the sense that I sound spiritual, that’s because I went back to Him after living a hedonistic life. God pulled me back. In the past couple of years, I almost died twice: I had an aneurysm in August 2020, and then I had a stroke in October 2021.
Before that, I had been a sinful and proud man. An automaker once gave me a “Last Man Standing Award” for “always outlasting other guys at the after-party.” If you’re curious about my past lifestyle, there’s your explanation. I let my wife walk away. I gambled my money. I abused my body. I lost my Top Gear Philippines job.
Which brings me to this point. I have no explanation as to why you’re reading me now. Not so long ago, some people had given up on me. Heck, I had almost given up on myself. Fast-forward to today and I’m living a new life. I have a new motoring website (Visor), and I consciously use it to glorify God.
I thank Him for a new avenue to reach out to others.
FILL YOUR TANK: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) – Vernon B. Sarne
